A typical front loading consumer autoreverse hi-fi cassette deck from lte 1980s (SONY TC-RX55), features full electronic transport, Dolby B, C noise reduction and HXPro dynamic headroom expansion

A cassette deck is a type of tape recorder for playing or recording audio compact cassettes. A deck was formerly distinguished from a recorder as being part of a stereo component system, while a recorder had a self-contained power amplifier and speakers. While the two terms are often now used interchangeably, a recorder is typically thought of as a small low-fidelity portable device, while a deck is a sophisticated high fidelity component. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x352, 67 KB) Summary Photograph taken by User:GRAHAMUK to serve the article cassette deck, freely given to WP and licensed under GFDL. Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x352, 67 KB) Summary Photograph taken by User:GRAHAMUK to serve the article cassette deck, freely given to WP and licensed under GFDL. Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to... Sony reel-to-reel tape recorder. ... The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. ... Sound system has multiple meanings: A sound reinforcement system is a system for amplifying, reproducing, and sometimes recording audio. ... High Fidelity is also the title of a book by Nick Hornby and a film directed by Stephen Frears, based upon Hornbys book. ...

History

Origins

A typical portable desktop cassette recorder from RadioShack.

The cassette recorder was introduced by the Philips Corporation in 1963 and marketed in 1965 as a device for vocal dictation designed for portable use. It was not intended to be a replacement for reel-to-reel recorders. It enclosed both reels of the recording tape in a small case which eliminated the need to thread the tape through individual reels. The tape width was nominally ¹⁄₈ inch (actually 3.81 mm) and tape speed was 1.875 inches (4.76 cm) per second, which meant that sound quality was appropriate only for voice or dictation use at the time with high end response dropping off beyond 10 kHz and high noise levels. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixel Image in higher resolution (1728 × 1152 pixel, file size: 406 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) RadioShack desktop cassette recorder and two cassettes sitting on a hardwood chess board. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixel Image in higher resolution (1728 × 1152 pixel, file size: 406 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) RadioShack desktop cassette recorder and two cassettes sitting on a hardwood chess board. ... The exterior of a typical free-standing RadioShack store. ... Philips HQ in Amsterdam Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Royal Philips Electronics N.V.), usually known as Philips, (Euronext: PHIA, NYSE: PHG) is one of the largest electronics companies in the world, founded and headquartered in the Netherlands. ... Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... Speech recognition technologies allow computers equipped with a source of sound input, such as a microphone, to interpret human speech, e. ... A reel-to-reel tape recorder (Sony TC-630), typical of those which were once common audiophile objects. ...

Early recorders were hand held battery-powered devices with automatic gain control, intended for dictation and reporting, but by the mid 1970s, the cassette deck with manual level controls and VU meters became a commonplace component of home high fidelity systems. Eventually they replaced the reel-to-reel recorder, which had found only limited home use because of their large size, expense, and inconvenience of threading and rewinding the tape reels. A cassette can be removed in the middle of the tape without rewinding. Cassettes can also be used in automobile and personal portable applications. Users typically simply dub songs from records in sequence to make a "road tape". Automatic gain control (AGC) is an electronic system found in many types of devices. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... A VU meter is often included in analog audio equipment to display a signal level in volume units. ... In sound recording, dubbing is the transfer of recorded audio material from one medium to another of the same or a different type. ...

In 1971, the Advent Corporation combined Dolby B-type tape-hiss-noise reduction system with chromium dioxide tape to create the Advent Model 201, the first high-fidelity cassette deck. Dolby B boosts treble levels well above the noise level, and reduces them on playback, while CrO₂ used different bias and equalization settings to do much the same, and extended frequency response into high fidelity range beyond 15 kHz for the first time. This deck was based on a top loading mechanism by Wollensak, a division of 3M which was commonly used in audio / visual applications. It featured an unusual single VU meter which could be switched between or for both channels, and lever operated controls, similar to those used on reel-to-reel mechanisms. Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... Henry Kloss (1929, Altoona, PA–January 31, 2002, Cambridge, MA) was a prominent audio engineer and businessman who helped advance high fidelity loudspeaker and radio receiver technology beginning in the 1950s. ... Dolby NR is a noise reduction system developed by Dolby Laboratories for use in analogue magnetic tape recording. ... Chromium dioxide is a synthetic magnetic mono-crystal invented by E.I. DuPont by decomposing chromium trioxide in the presence of water at a temperature of 900 degrees Fahrenheit. ... Wollensak was an American manufacturer of audio-visual products. ... 3M Company (NYSE: MMM), formerly Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company until 2002, is an American corporation with a worldwide presence. ...

Typical Teac top loading stereo cassette deck from mid 1970s

Most other manufacturers adopted a standard top loading format with piano key controls, dual VU meters, and slider level controls. There was a variety of configuations leading to the next standard format in the late 1970s, which settled on front-loading (see main picture) with cassette well on one side, dual VU meters on the other, and later a dual-cassette format with meters in the middle. Mechanical controls were replaced with electronic solenoid pushbuttons, though low cost models would retain mechanical controls. Some models could search and count gaps between songs. Cassette players pioneered the modern set of control buttons, play, pause, stop, record, and "locking" fast forward and rewind which could be depressed once, and remain until stopped. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... TEAC Corporation (ティアック) TYO: 6803 is an electronics company based in Japan. ... A key is a specific part of a musical instrument. ... Various solenoid actuators from Trombetta Motion Technologies A solenoid is a loop of wire, often wrapped around a metallic core, which produces a magnetic field when an electrical current is passed through it. ...

Widespread use

Cassette decks soon came into widespread use and were designed variously for professional applications, home audio systems, and for mobile use in cars, as well as portable recorders. From the mid 1970s to the late 1990s the cassette deck was the preferred music source for the automobile. Like an 8-track cartridge, it was relatively insensitive to vehicle motion, but it had reduced tape flutter, as well as the obvious advantages of smaller physical size and fast forward/rewind capability. The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Karl Benzs Velo model (1894) - entered into the first automobile race An automobile or motor car (usually shortened to just car) is a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor. ... The 8-track cartridge or Stereo 8 is a magnetic tape technology for audio storage, popular from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s. ... Flutter: In electronics, rapid variation of signal parameters, such as amplitude, phase, and frequency. ...

Performance improvements

Cassette decks reached their pinnacle of performance and complexity by the mid 1980s. Cassette decks from companies such as Nakamichi, Revox, and Tandberg incorporated advanced features such as multiple tape heads and dual capstan drive with separate reel motors. Auto-reversing decks came into popular use so the user did not need to flip the cassette manually to play the second side of the tape, and this became standard on factory installed automobile decks. The tape heads required repositioning to play each direction, though Nakamichi avoided this on one unit by physically rotating the entire cassette, leaving the heads stationary. Nakamichi Corporate Logo Nakamichi is a historic high end audio audio company most famous for its innovative and very high quality cassette decks. ... ReVox is a brand name of Swiss audio equipment created by Studer in the 1950s. ... For other Tandbergs see Tandberg (disambiguation) Tandberg is a manufacturer of videoconferencing systems, located in Oslo, Norway (product development, sales and distribution) and New York City, USA (sales and distribution). ... A tape head is a type of transducer used in tape recorders to convert electrical signals to magnetic fluctuations and vice versa. ... Nautical capstan A capstan is a rotating machine used to control or apply force to another element, usually linear. ...

Three-head technology uses separate heads for recording and playback. This enables hearing playback during the recording. It was common on reel-to-reel decks, but more difficult for cassettes, which do not provide separate openings for record and playback heads. A cassette has one opening designed for the erase head, a center opening for the record / play head, and a third opening for the tape drive capstan. Some models squeezed a monitor head into the capstan area, and others combined separate record and playback gaps into a single headshell.

Cassette decks sold by Harmon Kardon and Japanese companies such as Aiwa, Akai, Denon, Pioneer, Sony, Teac, Technics and Yamaha were also common, with each company offering models of very high quality. The best units could record and play the full audible spectrum from 20 Hz to 20 kHz with wow and flutter less than 0.05% and very low noise. The stylish Harman Kardon Soundsticks. ... Aiwa was a Japanese consumer electronics company, founded in 1951. ... Akai () was a Japanese consumer electronics producer founded in 1929. ... Denon is a Japanese electronics company that specializes in high-fidelity audio equipment. ... Pioneer Corporation is a world leader in digital entertainment products, based in Tokyo, Japan. ... Sony Corporation (Japanese katakana: ソニー) (TYO: 6758), (NYSE: SNE) is a global consumer electronics corporation based in Tokyo, Japan. ... TEAC Corporation (ティアック) TYO: 6803 is an electronics company based in Japan. ... Technics is a brand name of the Japanese company Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. ... The Yamaha Corporation (ヤマハ株式会社; TYO: 7951 ) is a Japanese company with a large number of product areas. ... Wow is a relatively slow form of flutter (pitch variation) which can affect both gramophone records and audio cassettes. ...

A very good live cassette recording could rival the sound of an average commercial CD, though the quality of pre-recorded cassettes was usually lower than could be achieved in a high quality home recording. Cassettes remain popular for audio-visual applications. Some CD recorders incorporate a cassette well to allow both formats for recording meetings, church sermons and books on tape.

The Dolby noise reduction system was key to realizing low noise performance on slow, narrow, cassette tapes. It works by boosting high frequencies on recording and then restoring them, also lowering the constant high frequency noises. Enhanced versions including the newer C (in 1980) and S types, though the B system is the only standard supported on most high fidelity automobile decks. Some decks incorporated microprocessor programs to adjust tape bias automatically. Bang & Olufsen developed the HX-Pro headroom extension system in conjunction with Dolby Laboratories in 1982. This was used in many higher-end decks. Chromium dioxide was the first formulation for high fidelity, but it required a special bias and equalization and switch (II), later decks incorporated coded holes in the shell to detect this. TDK and Maxell adapted ferric formulations to mimic CrO₂ which urban legend held would quickly wear out heads. Sony briefly tried FerriChrome which combined the best of both (III). Most decks today produce the best response with metal tapes which require yet another setting (IV), though they will play back at the II setting. Dolby NR is a noise reduction system developed by Dolby Laboratories for use in analogue magnetic tape recording. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Logo of Bang & Olufsen Beolit 39 from 1938, B&O:s first Radio in Bakelite Bang & Olufsen (B&O) is a Danish company that designs and manufactures high end audio products, television sets, and telephones. ... Dolby Laboratories, Inc. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Chromium dioxide is a synthetic magnetic mono-crystal invented by E.I. DuPont by decomposing chromium trioxide in the presence of water at a temperature of 900 degrees Fahrenheit. ... An urban legend or urban myth is similar to a modern folklore consisting of stories often thought to be factual by those circulating them. ...

Noise reduction and fidelity

A variety of noise reduction and other schemes are used to increase fidelity, with Dolby B being almost universal for both prerecorded tapes and home recording. Dolby B was designed to address the high-end hiss inherent in cassette tapes, and along with improvements in tape formulation it helped the cassette win acceptances as a high-fidelity medium. At the same time, Dolby B provided acceptable performance when played back on decks that lacked Dolby circuitry, meaning there was little reason not to use it if it was available. Noise reduction is the process of removing noise from a signal. ... Dolby NR is a noise reduction system developed by Dolby Laboratories for use in analogue magnetic tape recording. ...

The main alternative to Dolby was the dbx noise reduction system, which achieved a high signal-to-noise ratio, but was essentially unlistenable when played back on decks that lacked the dbx decoding circuitry. Philips developed an alternative noise reduction system known as Dynamic Noise Limiter (DNL) which did not require the tapes to be processed during recording; this was also the basis of DNR noise reduction.^[1] The logo represents both the company and its noise reduction system dbx is a noise reduction system for analog tape recording, North American TV broadcasting, and, less commonly, vinyl LPs. ... Signal-to-noise ratio (often abbreviated SNR or S/N) is an electrical engineering concept defined as the ratio of a signal power to the noise power corrupting the signal. ... Dynamic Noise Reduction (DNR) is an audio noise reduction system, originally developed by National Semiconductor to reduce noise levels on long-distance telephony. ...

Dolby later introduced Dolby C and Dolby S noise reduction, which achieved higher levels of noise reduction; Dolby C became common on high-fidelity decks, but Dolby S, released when cassette sales had begun to decline, never achieved widespread use. It was only licensed for use on higher end tape decks that included dual motors, triple heads, and other refinements. Dolby NR is a noise reduction system developed by Dolby Laboratories for use in analogue magnetic tape recording. ... Dolby NR is a noise reduction system developed by Dolby Laboratories for use in analogue magnetic tape recording. ...

Dolby HX Pro headroom extension was another Dolby invention that provided better high-frequency response by reducing the inaudible tape bias during the recording of strong high-frequency sounds, which had a bias effect of their own. Developed by Bang & Olufsen, it did not require a decoder to play back. Dolby NR is a noise reduction system developed by Dolby Laboratories for use in analogue magnetic tape recording. ... Tape bias is a high-frequency signal (generally from 40 to 150 kHz) added to the audio signal recorded on an analog tape recorder. ... Logo of Bang & Olufsen Beolit 39 from 1938, B&O:s first Radio in Bakelite Bang & Olufsen (B&O) is a Danish company that designs and manufactures high end audio products, television sets, and telephones. ...

Other refinements to improve cassette performance included Tandberg's DYNEQ, Toshiba's ADRES and Telefunken's Hi-Com, and on some high-end decks, automatic recording bias, fine pitch adjustment and (sometimes) head azimuth adjustment. Tape bias (also AC bias) is a high-frequency signal (generally from 40 to 150 kHz) added to the audio signal recorded on an analog tape recorder. ...

By the late 1980s, thanks to such improvements in the electronics, the tape material and manufacturing techniques, as well as dramatic improvements to the precision of the cassette shell, tape heads and transport mechanics, sound fidelity on equipment from the top manufacturers far surpassed the levels originally expected of the medium. On suitable audio equipment, cassettes could produce a very pleasant listening experience. The best home decks could achieve 20 Hz-20 kHz frequency response with wow and flutter below 0.05%, and 70 dB of signal-to-noise ratio using Dolby C, up to 80 dB of signal-to-noise ratio using Dolby S, and 90 dB with dbx. Many casual listeners could not tell the difference between cassette and compact disc. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A tape head is a type of transducer used in tape recorders to convert electrical signals to magnetic fluctuations and vice versa. ... Frequency response is the measure of any systems response to frequency, but is usually used in connection with electronic amplifiers and similar systems, particularly in relation to audio signals. ... Wow is a relatively slow form of flutter (pitch variation) which can affect both gramophone records and audio cassettes. ... Flutter: In electronics, rapid variation of signal parameters, such as amplitude, phase, and frequency. ... The decibel (dB) is a logarithmic unit of measurement that expresses the magnitude of a physical quantity (usually power) relative to a specified or implied reference level. ... Signal-to-noise ratio (often abbreviated SNR or S/N) is an electrical engineering concept defined as the ratio of a signal power to the noise power corrupting the signal. ... The decibel (dB) is a logarithmic unit of measurement that expresses the magnitude of a physical quantity (usually power) relative to a specified or implied reference level. ... Signal-to-noise ratio (often abbreviated SNR or S/N) is an electrical engineering concept defined as the ratio of a signal power to the noise power corrupting the signal. ...

From the early 1980s, the fidelity of prerecorded cassettes began to improve dramatically. Whereas Dolby B was already in widespread use in the 1970s, prerecorded cassettes were duplicated onto poor quality tape stock at high speed and did not compare in fidelity to LPs. However, systems such as XDR, along with the adoption of higher-grade tape (such as chromium dioxide, but typically recorded in such a way as to play back at the normal 120 μs bias position), and the frequent use of Dolby HX Pro, meant that cassettes became a viable high-fidelity option, one that was more portable and required less maintenance than records. In addition, cover art, which had generally previously been restricted to a single image of the LP cover along with a minimum of text, began to be tailored to cassettes as well, with fold-out lyric sheets or librettos and fold-out sleeves becoming commonplace. XDR (eXtended Dynamic Range) is a quality-control and duplication process for the mass-production of pre-recorded audio cassettes. ...

Some companies, such as Mobile Fidelity, produced audiophile cassettes in the 1980s, which were recorded on high-grade tape and duplicated on premium equipment in real time from a first-generation digital master. Unlike audiophile LPs, which continue to attract a following, these became moot after the Compact Disc became widespread. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL, or MoFi) is a company that produces audiophile releases of classic CDs and vinyl records. ... An audiophile, from Latin audire[1] to hear and Greek philos[2] loving, can be generally defined as a person dedicated to achieving high fidelity in the recording and playback of music . ... A Compact Disc or CD is an optical disc used to store digital data, originally developed for storing digital audio. ...

In-car entertainment systems

A key element of the cassette's success was its use in in-car entertainment systems, where the small size of the tape was significantly more convenient than the competing 8-track cartridge system. Cassette players in cars and for home use were often integrated with a radio receiver, and the term "casseiver" was occasionally used for combination units for home use. In-car cassette players were the first to adopt automatic reverse ("auto-reverse") of the tape direction at each end, allowing a cassette to be played endlessly without manual intervention. Home cassette decks soon added the feature. The 8-track cartridge or Stereo 8 is a magnetic tape technology for audio storage, popular from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s. ... For the device which is a tuner (radio) and a amplifier and/or loudspeaker, see receiver (home stereo). ...

Cassette tape adaptors have been developed which allow newer media players to be used with existing cassette decks, including those in cars. A typical cassette adapter. ...

Maintenance

Cassette equipment needs regular maintenance, as cassette tape is a magnetic medium which is in physical contact with the tape head and other metallic parts of the recorder/player mechanism. Without such maintenance, the high frequency response of the cassette equipment will suffer. A tape head is a type of transducer used in tape recorders to convert electrical signals to magnetic fluctuations and vice versa. ...

One problem occurs when iron oxide (or similar) particles from the tape itself become lodged in the read head. As a result, the tape heads will require occasional cleaning to remove such particles. The metal capstan and the rubber pinch roller can become coated with these particles, leading them to pull the tape less precisely over the head; this in turn leads to misalignment of the tape over the head azimuth, producing noticeably unclear high tones, just as if the head itself were out of alignment. Capstans are found in the mechanisms of tape recorders in which they have a similar function to nautical capstans. ...

In addition, the heads and other metallic components in the tape path (such as spindles and capstans) may become magnetised, and require demagnetization. Both Cassette demagnetizers and head-cleaning fluid are available. Isopropyl alcohol is commonly used as a tape head cleaner. Capstans are found in the mechanisms of tape recorders in which they have a similar function to nautical capstans. ... A cassette demagnetizer is a device that removes the magnetic charge that is built up from the use of audio cassettes in a cassette deck. ... Isopropyl alcohol (also isopropanol or rubbing alcohol) is a common name for propan-2-ol, a colorless, flammable chemical compound with a strong odor. ...

Decline in popularity

Analog cassette deck sales began to decline with the advent of the compact disc and other digital recording technologies such as digital audio tape (DAT), and MiniDisc. Philips responded with the digital compact cassette, but it failed to garner a significant market share and was withdrawn. Tascam, Marantz, Yamaha, Teac, Denon, Sony, and JVC are among the companies still manufacturing cassette decks in relatively small quantities for professional and niche market use. Computers can easily produce copies of entire CDs or convert tracks into MP3 or other format files for playback on portable digital music players such as the popular iPod. A Compact Disc or CD is an optical disc used to store digital data, originally developed for storing digital audio. ... Digital audio tape can also refer to a compact cassette with digital storage. ... See also IBMs VM operating system family, where minidisk refers to a logical unit of storage. ... Digital Compact Cassette (DCC) was a short-lived magnetic tape sound recording format introduced by Philips and Matsushita in late 1992. ... TASCAM is credited as the company that invented the affordable home recording studio. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... TEAC Corporation (ティアック) TYO: 6803 is an electronics company based in Japan. ... Victor Company of Japan, Limited ) (TYO: 6792 ), usually referred to as JVC, is an international consumer and professional electronics corporation based in Yokohama, Japan which was founded in 1927. ...

Despite the decline in the production of cassette decks, these products are still valued by some. Some audiophiles believe that cassette deck technology, due to its analog nature, provides sound recordings superior to current digital technology, such as CDR and DAT. However, cassette decks are not considered by most people today to be either the most versatile or highest fidelity sound recording devices available. This is largely due to the removal of a tape type selector from nearly all boomboxes and shelf stereo systems. Without a tape selector to set proper bias and equalization settings, Type II [High Bias] and Type IV [Metal Bias] tapes could no longer be used. These tapes were intended for high fidelity CD reproduction, but without the tape selector, only low grade Normal Bias tape can be used thus leaving poor sound quality. An audiophile, from Latin audire[1] to hear and Greek philos[2] loving, can be generally defined as a person dedicated to achieving high fidelity in the recording and playback of music . ... A Boombox or Boom-box is a portable stereo system capable of playing radio stations or recorded music (usually cassettes and/or, more recently, CDs), at relatively high volume. ...

See also

• Tape deck
• Nakamichi and Revox. These corporate pages contains links to external sites relevant to cassette decks.
• high end audio. This page contains links to high-end audio companies, including companies formerly producing "high-end" audio gear such as cassette decks.

In general, a tape recorder, tape deck, or tape machine is any device that records a fluctuating signal by moving a strip of magnetic tape across a tape head, which is a strong electromagnet. ... Nakamichi Corporate Logo Nakamichi is a historic high end audio audio company most famous for its innovative and very high quality cassette decks. ... ReVox is a brand name of Swiss audio equipment created by Studer in the 1950s. ... High end audio refers to audio equipment that is created to be the best, regardless of what it might turn out to cost in terms of price. ...

Notes

1. ^ Circuit and description of DNL URL accessed August 25, 2006

is the 237th day of the year (238th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Pictures of Cassette Decks – A Japanese language page, but containing pictures of historic cassette decks.
• Vintage Deck Pictures – An external link with pictures of vintage cassette decks and reel to reel decks.
• Audio Asylum Tape Trail – A discussion forum of interest to those involved in cassette technology.
• Vintage Cassette Decks - A collection of Vintage cassette decks of all brands.